Some End of 2009 Musings

Well, this last year was certainly exciting for me. I had the experience of being evicted, had to completely uproot in 30 days (no mean feat in ittself), moved back to my desert house, lost my cherished cat (Kitty Boy Floyd, I still miss you so much it hurts) and went on Social Security as my only income.

Now I am at a very peaceful space. I have been knitting socks, gardening, and still cleaning a house that was pretty much neglected for 10 years. I have learned how to reframe a window, set in glass, make some outdoor furniture, and learn to not hustle for that big nut I used to have to crack every month. This last one actually took quite a while. It was like I was on vacation and would get a sudden anxiety attack about not having gallery showings lined up, or part time jobs to follow through on. I would find myself getting scared and then realize there was nothing to be afraid of, I could just drop my shoulders, and enjoy the here and now.

Sure I have limits now, but it is okay. My limits are not that bad. Here are some photos of the beauty and peace I am now a part of.

Summer Days Countdown

I have been keeping a daily journal since I moved out here. Each day also has a countdown to the last day of summer. It isn't that accurate because here in the lower part of California, we have summer like weather sometimes until October. But it is encouraging the see the days dwindle down and know that eventually, I will be able to bake something, use our refridgerator again, and be able to go outside without having to run back and sit in front of the fan after only about 10 minutes.
I have learned to harvest and cook Palo Verde Beans! They are easy to harvest with a rake and a sheet. Just lay the sheet under the tree and rake the branches. They fall to the ground quickly because they are dry (a nice golden beige color) and many fall off of the sheet for the other desert denizens to enjoy. Hulling them is tedious, and I would have used a flail and basket type method, but some of the hulls had little holes in them and also little holes in the beans! Don't want all that work to be eaten up in the storage jar. They should be soaked before cooking, because those little suckers take up a lot of water. Even after soaking the ratio is about 5/1 for water and beans in the pan. They cook in about 2 hours, and are the consistency of corn kernels. But after that, you can add them to rice pilaf, or salads, or stews. I have used them as a garnish as well. They are black and add a nice contrast to the food colorwise.
Palo Verde Bean Rice Pilaf
1 Cup Cooked palo Verde Beans
1/2 Cup Chopped Onions
2 T. Olive Oil
1/2 Cup Canned Corn
1/2 Cup Chopped Tomato
Saute all in Cast Iron or heavy sauce pan until onions are transparent.
Add:
1 Cup Uncooked Rice
1 T. Chicken Boullion
Garlic Powder to taste
Saute with other ingredients for about 2 minutes.
Add:
2 Cups of liquid (water from the corn, stock or just plain water)
Cook on high until bubbly. then lower heat and place good fitting lid on pan.
Check after about 15-20 minutes, if rice is just starting to stick to the bottom and all the liquid is gone, turn off heat and replace lid. Wait 5-10 minutes before serving. this gives the food enough time to even out liquid wise and the rice will no longer be stuck to the pan. I think it is caused by condensation from the lid.
Garnish with: Chopped greens from the garden or chopped green onions.
Serve with tortilla chips or as a side dish.
We have been eating variations of this dish almost every night so far this summer. It is quick and easy and lends ittself to any extra items you might want to add.

Moving

Well, I have now been served the "unlawful detainer" notice. I have gone to a Legal Service for seniors and have a lawyer now. So I will be spending the next 6 weeks moving my home and studio back to the desert house.
At first I was scared, then mad, now I am accepting the whole thing as something I need to experience in life to make me a better person. I know that I was sent by God to take care of that little girl. I also know now that I am being used as a tool by God to show my ex-employer what the consequences of her actions actually are. I am taking her to court for the money she still owes me. I will just have to try and repair all of the artwork she damaged when she moved it, and I still don't know what she will do with my equipment. I might need to have help getting that all back.
So here are some pics of my desert house. I am going to repair the back section of the house to use as my studio/living space until I can get everything repaired for the coming summer. The solar panels are not adequate at this time for a water cooler, but that will be a priority. Also a top priority will be internet service, somehow. If anyone reading this lives in a really rural area and has some tips about internet service, please let me know. I am going to be looking into WiFi and see if that will work for my situation.